Halong Bay 2D1N Cruise Review: La Regina Legend (From Hanoi)

Day 2 of our 5D4N Hanoi itinerary took us away from the city buzz and into the tranquil limestone karsts of the UNESCO World Heritage site: Halong Bay.

Is Halong Bay Worth Doing?

If you are visiting Northern Vietnam for the first time, the answer is Yes – absolutely. To truly experience the peace and scale of the bay, I highly recommend at least a 2D1N cruise. While I might not do it a second time (unless I’m bringing the kids!), it is a “bucket list” experience that lived up to the hype.

How to Choose the Best Halong Bay Cruise

This was the most time-consuming part of my research as there are simply too many different cruise options to choose from. To be honest, I got a little “decision fatigue” comparing all the packages.

But at the end of the day, don’t over-compare the packages. Most cruises follow almost identical itineraries (caves, kayaking, cooking classes). So, if you’re planning a Halong Bay cruise from Hanoi, here is my breakdown of what actually matters when you’re booking:

1. Which Bay: Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay vs Bai Tu Long Bay

Actually, Halong Bay is made up of 3 different bays: Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay.

Bay Area	Vibe	Why Choose It?
Halong Bay	Iconic & Busy	Features the biggest caves (Sung Sot) and Ti Top Island.
Lan Ha Bay	Quiet & Pristine	Our Final Choice. Cleaner water, fewer boats, and closer to Cat Ba Island.
Bai Tu Long	Remote	The most “off-the-beaten-path” experience.

2. Duration & Budget & Cruise Style

2D1N vs 3D2N: If you are on a short 5-day getaway from Singapore like we were, 2D1N is more than enough to experience the beauty of the bay without feeling like you’re missing out. 3D2N is better only if you have a very relaxed schedule and want to head even deeper into the remote areas.
Budget: Prices range widely. You can find budget options from ~USD 100+, but for a special occasion or anniversary, I’d recommend the mid-range luxury tier (USD 200–500+ per person).
Cruise Style & Room Type: There are many types of cruise ships and room types to choose from. Do you want the “Old World” charm of a traditional wooden junk boat (like our La Regina Legend) or the sleek look of a modern luxury yacht? Do you want a room with balcony vs without balcony, although I highly recommend booking a room with a balcony so you can watch the limestone karsts from the comfort of your room. Accessibility Tip: If you have mobility issues or are traveling with elderly family members, check if the ship docks directly at the marina. Some ships (like ours) anchor further out which requires a tender boat transfer.

And of course – always check reviews before booking.

Our Choice: La Regina Legend Cruise (Princess Suite)

After much “decision fatigue, I booked the La Regina Legend 2D1N Cruise: Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay Tour via Klook.

Why we loved it: Boutique wooden aesthetic, solid 4.8/5 ratings, and it included a luxury limousine transfer from our Hanoi hotel.

A day before, they contacted me via WhatsApp to confirm on the pick-up details and timing. Very professional.

The Journey: Hanoi to Tuan Chau Marina

We were picked up right from our hotel at 8:00 AM in a luxury 7-seater limousine. Travel time was approx 3 hours via the new highway, including a 30-minute rest stop and a quick washroom break at a local souvenir and gift shop with a cafe.

Arrival & Boarding Process

We arrived at the La Regina private lounge at Tuan Chau Marina and were warmly welcomed by the La Regina staffs, who assisted with check-in and advised us where to drop off our luggage.

Then came the highlight of our trip: our cruise manager greeted us personally and informed us that we were the lucky couple being upgraded to the Queen Regent Suite – the largest room on the entire cruise!

We didn’t even mention it was our wedding anniversary; it was just pure, simple luck. A perfect lucky start to our anniversary.

Tender vs. Direct Boarding Not all cruises dock directly at the port. Some allow you to walk right onto the ship from the pier, but many (like La Regina) are anchored further out in the bay, which requires a tender boat transfer (around 45-minute). If you have mobility issues or are traveling with elderly family members, , check this detail before you book!

Lunch Onboard (Start of Cruise)

As soon as we boarded La Regina Legend, we were ushered to the restaurant for a sumptuous Vietnamese international buffet. While we ate, the cruise manager gave us a briefing on the itinerary and activities.

The best part? The ship started sailing during lunch. There is nothing quite like enjoying a meal while watching the limestone cliffs drift past the window.

Queen Regent Suite: Our Room Review

II have to say, the Queen Regent Suite was the highlight of the entire trip. A huge shout out to La Regina for the complimentary upgrade! Perfect for a special occasion!

Two private balconies on each side of the suite

Vendor trying to sell us drinks & snacks!

Activity: Light and Dark Cave (Lan Ha Bay)

Time for our first activity as we set off to explore the enchanting Light and Dark Cave, a prominent attraction in Lan Ha Bay known for its pristine and tranquil beauty.

Note: There will be a broadcast over the telecom when it’s activity time. For those who would like to participate in the sightseeing activities, you have to assemble at the reception at the designated time to board the transfer service.

We transferred onto smaller boats rowed by the locals.

After much rowing, thanks to the uncle, we finally reached the entrance of the cave and going under the low cave ceiling and emerging into a hidden, quiet lagoon was serene and thrilling.

See our Youtube video below

A nice group photo with my fellow cruise mates!

Bring along small changes for tips. We were told by the cruise manager beforehand to bring some small notes (25,000 – 100,000 VND) to tip the local rowers. They really work very hard rowing to and fro the cave and deserve the tips.

A Rare Sighting: The Cat Ba Langur (Critically Endangered)

We spotted some monkeys on the cliffs during our boat ride. I am not an animal enthusiast hence I have no idea what species they are. At that point of time, I was just thrilled to see wildlife monkeys. But when I researched it later for this blog, I was shocked!

We likely saw the Cat Ba Langur – one of the rarest primates on Earth. There are only about 70 of them left in the wild, all on Cat Ba Island. Hubby said – well we are lucky to be able to see it once in our lifetime. Hah.

La Regina Legend seen from the transfer boat

Back Onboard: Activities & Free Time

Back on the cruise, there were multiple activities lined up:

Swimming (too cold for me to get into the water)
Jacuzzi (there’re 2)
Happy Hour on the sundeck
Vietnamese cooking class where you can learn how to make traditional Vietnamese spring rolls

For us, we chose… to do a quick ship tour of the beautiful sundeck and then headed back to our room to enjoy that in-room jacuzzi.

The Sun Deck

Beautiful Views from the Sun Deck

Dinner Onboard

Unlike the buffet lunch, dinner was a sophisticated Western set menu. Two main courses to choose from and orders were already taken during lunch.

Night Activities (Or Not)

After a very fulfilling dinner, there were also multiple night activities to choose from.

Squid fishing: Never have the patience for fishing. But we watched the squid fishing from our balcony (which overlooked the back of the ship). One lucky passenger actually caught one!
Drinks on sundeck
Spa

We skipped most of it and just relaxed on our balcony, enjoying the peacefulness and serenity of the night.

Morning in Halong Bay

Next morning starts early with a morning tachi session on the sundeck at 6am followed by a quick breakfast before departing for Cat Ba World Biosphere.

We are definitely not morning people, so we chose to sleep in and skipped all the morning activities so there’s nothing to write or review about unfortunately.

We woke up around 9:00 AM, made coffee, and sat on the balcony just taking in the views. No rushing, no schedule – just a perfect morning in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Check-Out & Disembarkation

We left our luggage outside our room for the porters, checked out at reception around 9:00AM, and headed to the restaurant for a light breakfast/brunch before the tender boat took us back to the mainland.

After one last look around the deck (and of course, more photos), it was time to leave the cruise.

Our transfer boat to take us back to the mainland
Same process as boarding, just in reverse.

Transfer Back to Hanoi Old Quarter

Our luxury limousine driver who picked us up from Hanoi was already waiting at the La Regina private lounge to bring us back.

The journey from Ha Long Bay back to Hanoi took about 2.5 to 3 hours, with a short stop at a bamboo silk shop along the way.

We walked quickly through the shop (not really our thing), but the café at the back overlooking the rice paddy field was actually quite a nice break.

The return trip itself was pretty uneventful. Since we were the last to be dropped off, we ended up getting a mini “street tour” of Hanoi before arriving back at our hotel.